The World is Nuts, The World of Politics is Nothing More than a Political Pistachio

The battle against “smear” tactics is present in any political campaign. More often than not for a candidate a smear is easily defended against because the tactic is so off-key and ridiculous that even a third grader can determine the illegitimacy of it. Usually, the strategy for handling smears is simply to produce evidence that states otherwise, or to make a statement that exposes the smear for what it really is.

Barack Obama, like any other candidate, has been the victim of a number supposed smear tactics, some of which may very well be nothing more than smears, while others may have some credibility. The problem for Barack is, however, often the supposed smear turns out to be closer to the truth than expected by the accusers. And, more often than not, Obama’s campaign does not provide proof to the contrary. Or, Mr. Obama himself utters statements that are shaky at best, and sometimes even confirms the alleged smear without him even realizing it.

The so-called smear-tacticians proclaimed that Obama’s church of twenty years was one of hate and anti-Americanism. Obama proclaimed that to be false. Then Reverend Wright and Father Pfleger said their peace, and suddenly Barack Obama was back-pedeling, and saying he was never at church when such anti-establishment things were said. When he realized nobody was buying it, Barry proclaimed in an interview that yes, Wright sometimes said things that were controversial, and things he did not agree with. He added, for confirmation he’s like everyone else, I suppose, that “I don’t think my church is actually particularly controversial,” and that folks don’t always agree with everything their pastor says.

Part of what began the concept of religion, a man-made concept I have a serious problem with (religion is man-made, Faith in Christ is God-made), is because like-minded people tend to congregate together. If you don’t agree with your pastor on something, you go out and find a church, or pastor, where you do fully agree, or you just stop attending religious services altogether. However, one basic universal principle of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Christ says exactly this in the New Testament Book of John, Chapter 14, Verse 6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This brings up the next alleged smear. Barack Obama’s Christianity has become a topic of consideration. Barack, after slamming Mike Huckabee for wearing his faith on his sleeve in a political campaign, is now doing everything he can to convince the public that he is a devout practicing Christian. However, in line with his good friend Oprah Winfrey, Obama has continually stated that he believes there are “many paths to Heaven.” Though there are many who “claim” to be Christian that claim the same, the above verse in the Book of John is quite clear in declaring that Jesus Christ is the Only Way. Call me what you may, I didn’t decide personally “that’s the way it is.” I am simply pointing out the scripture that confirms it. If you have a problem with it, take up your beef with God.

Amidst the questions about Obama’s claim to Christianity is another bone of contention. Obama’s possible ties to Islam have been the concern of many. Obama has said repeatedly that he is not a Muslim, nor has he ever been a Muslim.

I honestly believe that Obama thinks he is a Christian, firmly believing that all it takes to be a Christian is to attend a church that says it is Christian (regardless of whether or not the doctrine is truly Biblical), read the Bible before you go to bed (even if you think some verses are obscure), be baptized, say a prayer every now and then, and maybe even have an on-going conversation with God that may or may not be performed while on his knees. I don’t think he has a personal relationship with Christ, based on things that he has said, but in the end, that is between him and God, so we shall leave it at that.

However, I do not like the fact that he lies and covers up bits and pieces of the “Are you Muslim” question. If he was Muslim at any point in his life, even when he was a young man and didn’t have much control of how people listed him, why can’t he just fess-up and admit it? I am sure the mainstream media won’t give him too much grief, and I am sure folks will understand if he was a Muslim at one point, but decided not to be later. But he lies continuously, calls any accusation of anything regarding him in a manner other than magically messiah-like a smear tactic, and then later the evidence arises that he was full of crap all along. This makes him look worse than if he’d just been willing to say from the start something like, “Yeah, I was listed as a Muslim at a school in Indonesia when I was a kid, and my dad was a Muslim. But as I grew up I realized that’s not what I wanted to be, so I decided to try to be a Christian,” or perhaps anything along those lines.

Okay, it says he was born in Honolulu, so that may be some additional evidence to clear up the Birth Certificate fiasco. . . but it lists him as being an Indonesian citizen? I wonder what the current status of that citizenship is.

His name is listed as Barry Soetoro. Does his birth certificate say Barry Soetoro? Did he ever legally change his name from Soetoro to Obama? And why did he later state in writing that his name was never any different than it is now?

So apparently Barack Obama lied to the Illinois Supreme Court when asked to provide former names on the above document. Hmmmm, seems like “lying” is nothing new for Barack Obama.

And notice on line four of the first document above his religion is listed as Islam.

Wait, Barry, I thought you have “never been” a Muslim.

I guess his Muslim step-father (oops, that makes two Muslim dads) considered the boy’s religion to be Islam.

Hey, Barry, that’s fine. If you aren’t Muslim, we’ll believe you, but don’t lie to us and say you “never have been” Muslim. You see, Barack, in presidential candidates character is an important thing to voters, and your inability to tell the truth repeatedly (not to mention your uncanny ability to hold opposing positions on issues simultaineously) is hardly evidence of moral standards, common decency, or any semblance of strong character.

Mr. Obama’s dad listed his own religion. According to Islamic law, a child inherits the religion of his father. Only after the age of 15 is someone allowed to make the choice to accept Islam. This must be an affirmative choice at that time. This makes a lot of sense, when you think about it. There’s really no way a child can be expected to understand what’s involved in becoming a Muslim. This is serious business, because once you have decided to become a Muslim, it’s a one-way street – the decision is irrevocable. If you change your mind later, you are considered an Apostate and the penalties are extremely severe. So, in order to have all of this make sense, you must proactively assert that you are a Muslim (and accept a few basic precepts) after the age of 15.

The school that Mr. Obama went to was not a religious school. It had people from a number of religions. It also did not teach any single religion in its curriculum. I suppose it was sort of like a Catholic school in the States.

One think I absolutely love about America is the concept of the self-made man. A person can become whatever they like, perhaps even the President. They don’t need to be born to a particular father, they don’t need to be rich, or well connected, or related to royalty. There was a time when people would judge the son by his father. So, if the father were a no-good drunken layabout, the son would be tarred with the same brush. Thankfully, that’s not the way people think in the United States. We judge a man by his deeds and character, not his ancestry.